Standing at 6ft 7in, High School Alex McKee cut an imposing figure in the line out and also mobility in scoring the opening against De La Salle, Churchtown, in this second round tie at Lakelands Park.
A sustained spell of pressure early in the second half which saw DLS, firmly entrenched on the High School line failed to yield a dividend and with that went their hopes, of furthering their progress in the competition.
To compound matters, High School then switched 25s and with just under 10 minutes remaining, Derek Nicholson collected from a serum to go over in the right hand corner, leaving them 12 points in front.
McKee had proved the proverbial thorn in the side. With Mervyn Craven, he cleaned up in the line outs and struck early in the first half with David Bell adding the points to the try.
Churchtown centre Mark McGuinness then pulled the score back to 7-3 before Bell found the range from a penalty to give his side a seven point cushion at the break.
